Former Oxford-Lafayette narc chief arrested

OXFORD – Searn Lynch of Oxford is free on bond after his arrest last week on federal accusations he deceived doctors to obtain multiple prescriptions.
Lynch, described as an Oxford police detective, was arrested Nov. 19 after an investigation by the FBI and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
The next day, Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander presided over his initial hearing and set his unsecured bond at $5,000.
Lynch is accused of a five-year scheme to acquire 831 doses of prescription painkillers and other drugs from 17 different health care providers, most in Oxford, from Jan. 1, 2007, through Nov. 16, 2012.
In a sworn statement to the U.S. District Court, FBI Special Agent Justin Niedzwecki in Oxford said a “patient monitoring profile” showed Lynch obtained “significant” quantities of drugs such as hydrocodone and oxycodone by claiming he suffered from sinusitis and backpain.
Hydrocodone and oxycodone are pain relievers. Hydrocodone also is used to treat coughs.
The agent said prescribing physicians told investigators they would not have prescribed the medications if they had known he allegedly obtained other prescriptions from other physicians.
On Nov. 19, investigators asked to arrest Lynch and search his residence and vehicles.
As a condition of his release, Lynch’s travel is restricted to north Mississippi and he cannot possess a firearm or use alcohol excessively.
Lynch was head of the Oxford/Lafayette Metro Narcotics Unit before he became an OPD detective.
Spokesmen for the department, as well as Oxford Human Resources, declined to describe Lynch’s employment status.
patsy.brumfield@journalinc.com